Foot steering apparatus



May 16, 1950 E. w. DoRN, JR., ETA. 2,507,894

FOOT STEERING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1947 k. Mew mmm ian DJ ,f mmf. 5M mwfw, um fw. V.. B

Patented May 16, 1950 FOOT STEERING APPARATUS Eugene W. Dorn, Jr., and William E. James, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application September 20, 1947, Serial No. 775,356

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a foot steering apparatus for use in outboard motor boats and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which will enable the operator of an outboard motor boat to steer it with his feet, thereby leaving him free to use both hands in fishing. This is accomplished by providing a portable foot pedal control apparatus that can readily be seated within a boat and connected to the steering handle or tiller with a minimum of effort and time.

As is commonly known, it is necessary for the operator of an outboard motor boat to sit sideways in order to steer the boat effectively. This is not only uncomfortable but does not assure the maximum of safety, by reason of the operators inability to see all approaching traffic, particularly that approaching from the direction opposite to that in which he is facing. This hazard is considerable in small resort lakes where many outboard motor boats are in use. It is the purpose of this invention to eliminate this hazard by enabling the operator or pilot to face forward and to see all approaching traic. In addition, by reason of the fact that he does not have to set sideways in operating the present invention, the operator is much more comfortable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus which will enable the operator to make a sharp turn or a complete reverse in direction with a minimum of effort and a maximum of speed. In the standard outboard motor powered boat, which is steered by a tiller, such a sharp turn or a complete reverse in direction is difcult by reason of the fact that in trying to negotiate such, it is necessary to swing the tiller a considerable distance rearwardly and outwardly from the rear of the boat. While it is possible to do this, it is difficult by reason of the limited reach of many operators. On the other hand, with the present invention it is possible to negotiate a 180 degree turn with ease, merely by pressing forwardly on either of the foot pedals hereinafter described.

Many outboard motor powered craft are used on small resort lakes for fishing purposes, particularly in connection with trolling. At such times it is a considerable advantage to the fisherman to have both hands free rather than to be hampered by a hand steered outboard motor. The present invention leaves both hands free at all times, as aforesaid.

One of the features of the present invention resides in its adjustability. It can be adjusted not onlyY as to width but as to height as well, thereby fitting any normal type or size of boat in which an outboard motor is used.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the fact that it is portable and may be transferred from one boat to another as desired, with a minimum of effort.

A still further feature of the present invention resides in enabling the operator to sit forward in the boat, in which position, by reason of the weight distribution, he can gain more speed out of the boat when and if he so desires.

The full nature of the invention will be under stood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. l is a top plan view of a boat in which the present invention has been placed for operaion.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the foot pedals and its associated wheel and support members.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the quadrant member or sector shaped attachment to which the tiller is connected.

In the drawings I0 indicates the boat in which the invention is installed and II represents the usual outboard motor with its steering control arm or tiller I2. The frame of the invention which supports the operating mechanism comprises a substantially U-shaped member I3 which has flared or inverted leg portions I4 at its upper extremities. At I5 is shown a shaft which extends through accommodating bores in the arms I6 of the U-shaped member I3. .This shaft extends transversely of said U-shaped member, as shown, and projects outwardly therefrom a short distance. The outer ends of the shaft are reduced in size and are adapted to have mounted thereon the wheels I'I. These-wheels are held in position by means of the nuts I8. Each of the wheels is grooved about its periphery as shown at I9 in order to receive the cable hereinafter more fully discussed.

Mounted upon shaft I5 adjacent said arms I6, and on the inner side thereof are the pinions 20 with their respective hub portions 2|. Each of the pinions is held in spaced relation by the center bearing 22, which is in the shape of an inverted T and the base of which is integral with said U-shaped member I3.

At 23 are shown the foot pedals which control the operation of the invention. Each pedal is suitably secured to a ratchet bar 34 which is slidably mounted in aj housing25. T-he housings are Y secured one to each arm of said .U -shaped member and at a right angles thereto. A portion of the upper wall of each housing is cut away intermediate its ends to .provide openings 26, thereby enabling the ratchet bar 24 to mesh kwith their respective pinions L2Il.'` In order to operate the invention successfully; it is necessary:.-toposition one ratchetbar and itshousing above the pinion and the other beloW.,. w l

Secured `to the v'inverted leg portions I41-by means of the screws 21 is the cros serodf28y .which Y extends transversely of said U-is'haped member,

vas shown in Fig. 2. rThis cross-iro'dz 'has'errad-j Vjustableextension 29 positioned adjacente-each Y of itsextremities. `Each adjustable-extensione has a pair of bolts 30 mounted therein.` The shank portions3l of each bolt are 'adaptedito extend through the slots 32 formed in said crossV rod 28 -adjacentffeachf extremity. .:'Ilhe extension can be secured `fin-any: desired fpos'itionirela'tive @to the cross rod.` slots '32-.1by fmeans 'of the.- wingfnuts k:33 which arefthreadedly securedito'thl'bolts. 30.

The. outer Yextremity; or fleg :34 voffeach v adjustor ropes are then led through their respective pulleys 39 and 40, and 43 and 44. From thence, they are passed through eye members 50 which are secured to the inner sides of the gunwales` of the boat and which serve as guide members to lkeep the cables, wires, or ropes from becoming entangled or from interfering with the movementV of the occupants of the boat. From thence, the lvcables; wires or.. ropes sare fledilthrough pulleys 45 andl 46 atthe rear ofthe4 boat. From thence they are led to and trained around grooves in a A quadrant or sector shaped attachment 5 I.

:ff.-'=1?.hese. grooves are an upper and a lower groove .52 and 53, respectively, which are formed in the'facerflthegeurved or radial portion of the Lquadrant. One end of each of the cables, wires,

....or.. .ropesi 4l..-and.48 is trained entirely around able extension 29..flaresk :upwardly fand-.td a'. slight j degree outwardly, conformingrsubstantially Ito .theincline -of-.k thelesides :of s a'.- boat. i'Eachg-1'of.- said z1egs'34 has. a pair -ofnbolts Y35-rnounted therein.

'Y Associated with each of-:sai'dflegs ..34 .i'sl-an adjust-` able clampingzmemberfwhichahas ai slot;formed thereiny intermediate ends.r The .shank .por- ,tins A f3l-`o ssaid'. bolts; 35,: jare;y adapted to extend and toengage thefgunwaleIoftherboat-g1fhe y clampingmember'fmaybeselevatedlor lowered asthe-depthofthewboat requires. ,Z Throughrthe mediumV of wing nut 38, the clamping member-35 securesthe extensiony VY29.=and.thecross .rod 28 A,irnil'y in thendesired'position 'inlthaboat n By means of the following described'ypulley .e and? cable, wiregorf-ropefsystem; the movement fof thefootfpedals'23 andfwvheels If'lis'transinitted .to Ythe tiller of the boat for eiectivesteeringfcony ltrol. VPulleys .39 and @40%:are1hung respectively i..-

r .from thea-two.;projectionsdI and-@42.1. Theziprojection 4I extends outwardly-:fat'fairightfanglein` lone .direction rfromp thefcrossirodf Bitowrhi'chit is fsecured; andfthe projection142extendsioutwardly fthe z cross rod 28 otofawliichfit isi secured:y Each '..projectionf .-.i23xthat the.;

l onefeachatoiihefejustableiextensicnezsfadgaeent r .fthe`4 pointiiwhere thexextension :ares;.upwardly itheiiboa't.k V y,

One'end of Veach of two cables,.ropes;

ati ia .--right iangle, inidthe4 opposite':'directioniffromk the:Y grooves in opposite directions and passes tharoughiits respective bore 54 formed in the quadrant 5I. The ends ofthe cables, wires, or ropes fare; then-knotted asiat-:55 :onsecuredtothe fqnadranirinfanyaotherrs-uitable manner.

Secured to the upper portion of the quadrant l--byifscrews:lfcicis' azclarrrpingv 'mernbere56,Y This member-iis preferably secured.iadjacentfzoneffside K on the oth'er of .thequadrant4 .asi showngin: order @to 'f facilitate .ar-*greatera:7 degree ofriswing: to fthe :..ItilleirQIZLandto provideafora` smoother jerkefree :..actionliofithegfquadrant. `'I,he,:ti11er isypassed ".throngl'rftheA clamping;arnisflgwofthe-.fclamping K, memberdit. andis secured thereto-throughethe operation of the screws 58.

'i-.Itiis `thus':apparent .thatizvhen'onegiofy thexffoot apedalsn23iiisi pushedcinwardly r: by the ioperatorx of ifth'egkboat, the;A oltlfier`-i;,foot-.v .pedal :will wmove rfout- K ward'lyfbyfreasonxofathe .location .of :one/ratchet ofzpositionedvrelativefrtoxthefwheels v tozzandV whanging@therefronnfarefdirectlyfiaboyeith i afref-spective-:swlieels .23ffiand3in the :ssamezetangential .f4-1-andfABisipassed'throughan aperturaeabored inrithe circumferential?. portion iofiieachfwheell-LZS and: is?.knottediiorlsecured.rheretosinany satis- YAfactory 'manner'. Theii-fcable, ropa or uwireillis preferably-toria size y.that wilrsnuglyinestn the sgroove'l 9fforrnedfjriztheeperiphery ofreachfwheel.

The cables, wires, or ropesS4fI-an'di48faretrained :around fthe'svwheelsif 23eme oppusiterr directions. in

Iibari-2 A; .above fand the :zother :below/*.:the :npinions vfz Theiwheelsxl 'I :initurniarermovedin.:opposite directions bythe.pinions rand "this-.movement is itransmittedato: the cables,-J'wires,.or....ropestf lffand '48.; One sofi. theicables; wires, orzropes will therefibyrbe' shortened orwound-.up about its-:respective 'fv'zheelfwhileithe zoltheriwill be unwound. or .slack- Y consider-edi to 'be withinjthe'broad'scope ofthe firrvention;reference beinghad to the appended claims. j

The-invention claimedV is: 1 *1; A pedal steer-ing *control apparatus for Ya boat havingv anioutb'oard motor 'steering Ymember,

comprising'ai-pair of `differentially foot operable membersf a pair Vof2 wheels, afdriveA connectionbetween saidi members Vand said wheels;V aA lsupport :iorzsaid members andfsaid wheels, means upon 4the support-fforradjus'tably securingl said'fsupport -:.withinthe boat; l and 'a2 pair l-of--l tension elements .connecting saidf wheels Vfwithf the' motor' steering zmember: for?. boat 7 steering purposes.

2. A portable pedal steeringfc'o'nt-rol"` apparatus for,` :aggboat-1havingfian:outboardi motorflfsteering v.theirrespectivegronves I9. 'i Theifcabl`eS;-wire`s, W5 imember, .jcomiprising acpain of idifferentiallyf'rfoot 5 operable members, each having a ratchet ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment integral therewith, a pair of pinions Number Name Date mounted upon a shaft so positioned as to mesh 315 743 Curln Apr 14 1885 one with each of said pinions, a pair of wheels 6361179 Willis No", 7 1899 mounted upon said shaft adjacent said pinions, 5 792121 Donoval "June 13 1905 means for supporting said pedals, shaft, wheels l 403318 Hansen Jan 10 1922 and pinions within a boat, pulley means, and a 1767584 Hammer Jun'e 24 1930 tension connection led through said pulley 1961506 Mmican June 5 1934 means connectirixg laid wheels with the steering 2237834 Landgraf Apr 8 1941 member for boa s eering purposes. l0

EUGENE W BORN JR. 2,299,178 Relter Oct. 20, 1942 WILLIAM E. JAMES. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 4,287 Great Britain Dec. 1o, 1875 The following references are of record in the l5 326,997 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1930 file of this patent: 

